Nature's Gift December Newsletter

Well, Thanksgiving and "cyber Monday" have come and gone, and we didn't have our new specials page or updated gift page ready to go. Sometimes life just gets away from us. But I got to spend the long holiday weekend with all FOUR of my grandkids at the same time...so it's worth being a bit behind!

We are all still works in progress, after all!

New this month you will find:

On our New and Specials page: new or back in stock essential oils - a new Frankincense, the return of Linden Blossom Absolute, a new Frankincense-Myrrh codistillate just in time for the Holiday Season. New Owyhee Hydrosol - soothing and anti-inflammatory; back in stock Calendula Hydrosol (the first batch sold out much too fast!) Special seasonal sales on our Christmas-time synergies, a new Conifer (evergreen/needle) oils sampler, a new Three Kings Bliss Bath and Shower Gel for those who love our Three Kings and Cleopatra's Secret soaps.

We have added some new goodies to our suggested gift list - a "Week of Bliss" bliss bath sampler, a very special Men's gift set, gifts for the world travelers either to combat Jet Lag, or to protect their winter vacation from various hazards. Our Happy Baby Gift set is back, with Baby Bottom Balm added. Gifts for your office co-workers, your neighbors, we hope everyone on your list. (This list is very much a work in progress. We have more ideas than we have time to create, so new gift items are added almost daily. If you don't see something that is just right for someone on your list, check back in a day or two.)

SHOPPING DISCOUNT DAY:

Wednesday, December Fifth is St. Nicholas Day. To celebrate the spirit of old St. Nick we are offering a 10% across the board discount on all of our "discountable" products. Simply type the word "gifts" (without the quotation marks) into the promotional code box at checkout and press apply. You should see your discount reflected on screen. If you do NOT see the discount reflected, please go back and retype and reapply. Under no circumstances will we be able to retroactively discount your order. Please remember that our shopping cart is on the west coast of the USA. The time stamp of the shopping cart will be the time your order was entered and the promotional code will be activated.

Shipping deadlines: The U. S. Postal systems shipping deadlines are posted online at http://www.naturesgift.com/deadlines-2006.htm

FEEDBACK and Suggestions

My discovery: Mature Skin Cleansing Oil.

Was on a long weekend vacation recently, and forgot to take my personal bar of Reunite' soap. I didn't like the soap available where we were staying, so was at a loss. Remembered seeing some company recommend their olive oil as a cleanser, so I tried imitating them with my own private skincare oil. (I'll share the secret - 3 ounces of our Apricot Kernel Oil with 1/2 bottle of our Mature Skin Elixer added.) I've been using this as a moisturizer for several months. But as a cleanser? Nothing to lose by trying. I poured perhaps a teaspoon or so into the palm of my hand, and gently massaged it into my face (very gently around the eyes!) Warm water on a wash cloth to rinse it off. My skin was left clean, not oily, and not a trace of makeup. I've continued using this as my daily 'end of day' routine ever since. If I feel like a bit too much oil was left behind, I'll spritz a couple of sprays of neroli or frankincense hydrosol onto a cotton ball and wipe with that, catching any "leftover" makeup or facial oil. I'm delighted. T says my skin never looked better. We may someday decide to put this combination together and offer it online, but in the meantime we thought you might like to try it yourself.

My skin is so reactive, and there are so many essential oils in the air here that I chose not to add any to the cleansing oil. However, a few drops of carrot seed, or frankincense, or any of the essential oils designed for mature skin would be a lovely addition. (See our Natural Skincare page for further ideas.)

Impetigo?

A friend had been scratching at a rash, and I asked to look at it. Nasty... crusty with a golden crust that I had been taught was characteristic of Impetigo (a bacterial skin infection.) Now, Impetigo may be caused by either strep or staph bacteria. He was not going to go to a doctor, so I suggested he try our MERCY treatment gel. Within two days the crust was disappearing, with healthy new skin showing underneath. Was it the Aloe that helped? Was it the synergy of oils in our MERCY products? Would it have gone away by itself? I don't know. But it's healed.

Sinus Infection?

Dr. Larry Helveston and I conducted an extended correspondence. He had a serious sinus infection, with totally blocked eustachian tubes and wrote asking about a blend of cinnamon bark, clove, and thyme that had been recommended. I convinced him to "gentle it down" a bit by going with cinnamon leaf, and our Thyme Linalol or Thujanol, rather than the red thyme that is often available, for safety's sake. He shared his results in the following, with permission to share with you all:

Hi Marge, since ordering Cinnamon Leaf, Clove, and Thyme from you I have experimented on my self with fantastic results! What I do is put on a small pan of distilled water and bring it to a boil. I then turn the heat down to where I'm still getting a visible steam. I put 3 drops each the oils mentioned above and then deep breath the vapors for about a minute. I've done this for about 3-4 days 3 times a day. I have had complete healing of my sinus congestion and eustachian tube blockage. The vapors are powerful but very tolerable and cause just a very slight iirritation at first, but boy what relief!! I believe it is very safe and effective if keeping the dosage to 2-3 drops of each oil .

Now, I still think this blend is a bit too strong. I would prefer to skip the initial irritation he experienced, and think that using just one drop of each in the steam would be effective. It is not a blend I would have thought of, and I appreciate his sharing it!

Quotes and Suggestions from Prior Newsletters:

Cold Weather Reminder: A client recently wrote asking if there was an aromatherapy remedy for cold hands and feet...and there is! There is nothing better for stimulating circulation in the extremities than black pepper essential oil. Possibly massaged, in a weak dilution, (one drop per teaspoon of carrier oil should be enough), or better yet, just inhaled from a wee sniffy bottle.

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Which reminds me: AROMATIC SMELLING SALTS: take one of our "Deluxe Personal Inhalers" fill EITHER with Sea Salt, or pack the bottle with cotton. Add a few drops of your most effective essential oil or blend (see the "cold feet" suggestion above, or our Sinease Synergy, or Reunite' for bouts of anxiety), and seal tightly. Tucked in a purse or pocket, it is always present when the need arises.

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"Shall we liken Christmas to the web in a loom? There are many weavers, who work into the pattern the
            experience of their lives. When one generation goes, another comes to take up the weft where it has been
            dropped. The pattern changes as the mind changes, yet never begins quite anew. At first, we are not sure
            that we discern the pattern, but at last we see that, unknown to the weavers themselves, something has
            taken shape before our eyes, and that they have made something very beautiful, something which compels
            our understanding."

--Earl W. Count, 4,000 Years of Christmas

How neatly the above quote ties together the rebirth of the light, celebrated at the Winter Solstice, and the Birth of a King, celebrated on Christmas Morn. I hope that something we have offered will brighten and sanctify your holidays.